Environmental product declaration

There are many ecolabels and sustainability seals, as they can be effectively used for marketing. The type III environmental labels or environmental product declarations (EPDs), as they are commonly called, stand apart from the rest: Data analysis during EPD generation makes it possible to identify hotspots of resource deployments, emissions or waste quantities. Manufacturers - like KLB-Klimaleichtblock - take this as an opportunity to design their products and processes to be more ecologically advantageous. This way not only the buildings become more sustainable by selecting the right products, but the individual product used also is improved. The basis for EPDs are the previously comprehensively recorded life cycle assessment data. Environmental impacts are thus made transparent and presented in a neutral manner. The information contained in the EPD does not have to be limited to the life cycle assessment. Additional technical information can also be included, in case of wall blocks made of light-weight concrete for example regarding their excellent insulation performance.

The most important EPD program operator in Germany is the Institute for Construction and Environment e.V. (IBU). From its program instructions, for example, the following steps to the finished EPD result:

The basis of an EPD are the product category rules (PCR). The requirements and basic contents of the EPD from PCR Part A that apply uniformly to all product groups are supplemented in Part B by product group-specific requirements and any explanations. The overall draft is submitted to the expert council (SVR), which checks it for conformity to standards, consistency between the product groups, completeness and appropriateness, if needed adjusts it and then approves it.

On the basis of PCR Parts A and B the building product manufacturers, like KLB-Klimaleichtblock, create the preliminary EPD for their product. For this they enter all required data into the online database system of the IBU. For a “Core EPD” according to DIN EN 15804 at a minimum the life cycle assessment data are required. An “IBU-EPD” additionally requires technical information regarding the product, interpretations of the life cycle assessment and possibly additional documentation. An example this can be seen in the EPD of the filled light-weight concrete masonry “KLB-Kalopor”.

For the final test the IBU assigns an independent verifier to the EPD. The verification is carried out on the basis of the ISO 14025 and DIN EN 15804. Following the verification report IBU publishes the EPD on its internet site. The validity of the EPD is generally five years.

An EPD is organised in modules, which orient themselves to the life cycles of the product: Manufacture (A1-3), Construction (A4-5), Use (B1-7) as well as Disposal (C1-4). These standard modules can be supplemented by an information module (D), which includes additional information for calculating the environmental quality, which lies outside of the life cycle. This includes for example the reuse and recycling potential. Not every EPD has to include all modules. The minimum are however modules A1-3. This is then called a “cradle to gate” analysis. “Cradle to grave” in comparison describes all phases A1-C4.

KLB-Klimaleichtblock started early on providing EPDs on the basis of comprehensive life cycle assessments. This is why the company is currently the only lightweight concrete manufacturer in Germany to have strong proofs for the sustainable quality of its high-performance masonry blocks with integrated insulation. For non-filled lightweight concrete blocks, the Bundesverband Leichtbeton has been offering corresponding association EPDs for years.

Advantages of EPDs

The basis of an EPD are the product category rules (PCR). The requirements and basic contents of the EPD from PCR Part A that apply uniformly to all product groups are supplemented in Part B by product group-specific requirements and any explanations. The overall draft is submitted to the expert council (SVR), which checks it for conformity to standards, consistency between the product groups, completeness and appropriateness, if needed adjusts it and then approves it.

On the basis of PCR Parts A and B the building product manufacturers, like KLB-Klimaleichtblock, create the preliminary EPD for their product. For this they enter all required data into the online database system of the IBU. For a “Core EPD” according to DIN EN 15804 at a minimum the life cycle assessment data are required. An “IBU-EPD” additionally requires technical information regarding the product, interpretations of the life cycle assessment and possibly additional documentation. As an example this can be seen in the EPD of the filled light-weight concrete masonry block “KLB-Kalopor”.

For the final test the IBU assigns an independent verifier to the EPD. The verification is carried out on the basis of the ISO 14025 and DIN EN 15804. Following the verification report IBU publishes the EPD on its internet site. The validity of the EPD is generally five years.

EPDs according to EN 15804 are not comparable statements. They also do not include evaluations. This is because building products and building materials are not end products: They do not develop their environmental impact until they are at or in the building. Consequently a comparison of their environmentally relevant characteristics is also only reasonable in the context of the building. In order to establish this comparability, many national and international building certification systems which frequently rely on life cycle assessments and EPDs have been established. The available EPDS by KLB-Klimaleichtblock are for example compatible with the known systems, such as DGNB, BNB, LEED and BREEAM, which are explained in the chapter “Systems for Building Certification”.